Three Toowoomba businesses hit overnight by thieves searching for cigarettes

Vandals have left a trail of destruction across the city after they smashed their way into multiple businesses in a short space of time, breaking doors and stealing tobacco products.

Thieves have cut a path of destruction across the city after they targeted multiple stores in search of tobacco products.

According to the initial police report, four offenders gained entry to the Wilsonton Coles store shortly after 1am on Monday by smashing a large glass window.

They attempted to force open the store’s cigarette cabinet but were unsuccessful and fled empty-handed, triggering an alarm in their escape.

A short time later they forced entry to a store at the Tower Shopping Village on Drayton Rd by breaking a glass door.

CCTV of the incident showed them attempting to force open a tobacco cabinet with some tools, but again, they were unsuccessful.

Their third target was the Metro Fuels service station on West St, where they again smashed a glass window.

A red 2017 Mazda CX-3, stolen from a Highfields address, was linked to multiple break and enter offences at Toowoomba businesses in the early hours of Monday.

This time they were able to force open the store’s smoke cabinet.

CCTV shows the offenders loading up a milk crate and several bags with cigarettes before escaping through a hole in the door.

Toowoomba Detective Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker said a stolen red 2017 Mazda CX-3 (356 XDG) was linked to the offence.

“That vehicle was stolen during a burglary of Highfields home between January 12-14,” he said.

Police have recovered the vehicle but the offenders remain at large.

Anyone with information about its movements, or the offences, is urged to police Policelink on 131 444 or Crimes Stoppers on 1800 333 000.